Best Lidar Robot Vacuums on a Budget

A number of robot vacuums are more expensive than traditional vacuums and some models costing into the four figures. However, budget-friendly models that have features like self-emptying bins or built-in mopping capabilities can still offer solid performance for less than half the cost.

Unlike 'bump and run robots, which make use of physical contact to map the space, lidar vacuum technology helps these cleaners avoid furniture and other obstacles more effectively.

Neabot Neabot X8 Pro

The Neabot X8 Pro robot vacuum is a versatile vacuum cleaner with a long-lasting battery which can clean effectively in most homes. Its sophisticated filtration system can remove small particles, such as pet hair and dander, making it a perfect option for families that have pets and ideal for allergy sufferers. Its smart design and user-friendly application allow you to effortlessly plan and remotely manage your cleaning needs, allowing you to reduce time and effort.

The X8 Pro is equipped with powerful dual turbine 4000 Pa motor, which offers excellent suction for dust, dirt pet fur, other debris. It also has an intelligent, self-learning lidar navigation robot vacuum system that uses sensors for gyroscopes to move around furniture and other obstacles. This makes it more nimble than other robots that rely on mapping or cameras to navigate around your home.

This robotic vacuum is lightweight and compact, meaning it is able to fit into narrow corners and other areas where other robots would struggle to move. Its battery lasts about 90 minutes, which is sufficient to clean the majority of rooms of a standard home, and it will return to its docking station on its own if the battery runs low. The X8 Pro also has an automatic emptying base that removes dust, debris, and other particles from the bin onboard after each cleaning session. This means that you don't have to manually empty the bin and saves you time and effort.

The X8 Pro, like most other robot vacuums, can be used with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. This makes it easy to use voice commands. It comes with a built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which lets you connect to your home network and connect to the manufacturer's support site for any problems.

In our testing, the X8 Pro performed well on all kinds of flooring. It was able navigate between obstacles, furniture and hard floors with ease. The three-brush cleaning system is better for hardwood floors than Roomba’s two brush model. The X8 Pro has a programmable hopper which automatically empties after each sweep, and after every third or second, it returns to the docking station.

Roborock S7 MaxV

The S7 MaxV robot vacuum and mop is a powerful machine for cleaning. Its battery lasts over three and a half hours when it is in its energy-efficient Quiet Mode, giving it ample runtime to remove light debris in large rooms. The MaxV also has an extremely powerful Max+ mode that can take on larger messes, but it reduces the running time to less than 90 minutes.

The MaxV's lidar robot vacuum and mop navigation technology is combined with its dual camera to map rooms and locate furniture carpets, furniture, and objects. It employs Reactive AI 2.0 which proved to be successful in our tests, to avoid them. MaxV's dual camera gives it a greater viewing height than the majority of the robots we test. This lets it see more detail and baseboards on floors with high ceilings.

Its wide range of customization options includes linking it to voice control, which allows you to control the robot using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple's Siri via Shortcuts. You can also create multiple maps for different floors and use the app's scheduler feature to automatically clean your house at a specific time.

Roborock S7 MaxV is a simple operation, with one power button that doubles as the 'Cleaning' command. It also comes with the Spot Clean function, which lets you select one specific area to clean. Its smart home integration system is also robust. You can connect the MaxV to other devices like lights and thermostats using IFTTT.

Roborock's S7 MaxV Ultra is a more costly model than the S7 but with a bigger dock that can accommodate mopping units as well as a dustbin. The Ultra model also has an option for remote viewing that allows you to monitor your robot from afar. To enable this feature, you'll need create an unlock pattern within the MaxV Ultra app, which is a bit more complex than setting up Ecovacs its rival robot, the X1 Omni. This feature is great for those with a large home or do not want the hassle of emptying the robot's trash bin. However, it's important to note that the Ultra model doesn't have self-emptying docks, unlike the S7 and S7 Plus.

Eufy X8 Pro

The X8 Pro robot vacuum and mop is a two-in-one device with powerful suction, and the most efficient navigation in the industry. It uses iPath Laser Scanning to map the area to avoid obstacles and determine carpet thickness. A large 2.5-liter bin seals in dust to allow hands-free operation.

The mop and vacuum both have different cleaning options. They can be used together or in a separate manner. The mop moves the dampened pad across the floor, while the vacuum picks up pet fur and dirt. This method is adequate for routine maintenance, but it won't handle tough stains or sticky spills.

The X8 Pro was able to clean my floors quickly and efficiently during our tests. It was able to navigate difficult furniture placements as well as a broad variety of floor types including textured hardwoods and carpets that are thick. It has a variety of cleaning brushes, but also a spin brush that is ideal for picking up pet fur. It offers a range of cleaning settings that can be adjusted to make your cleaning for specific areas. This includes a specific mode that allows you to reach difficult-to-access areas, such as under the mattress or in the corner of the room.

The X8 Pro is designed to avoid stairs, but it can be confused by steep slopes or other barriers. This is particularly true if they are placed near the edge of a stairway. Set any object at minimum 1.5 feet (5cm) away from a stairway's edge to prevent the X8 Pro from climbing up and over it.

You can control the X8 Pro using a free mobile app. It provides quick access to maps and controls and more advanced settings such as scheduling and auto-empty frequencies. It's easy to set up a cleaning cycles and even view maps in real-time. It lets you choose an area or room for manual detangling cycles, and create smart no-go areas for areas it should avoid.

The X8 Pro's self-emptying stations hold the largest 2.5-liter antibacterial bag that can store up to 60 days of trash for a household with three members and two or more pets. It's actually one of the largest bags available for an automated cleaner.

Neato Botvac D4

The D4 Connected may not have all the bells and bells of Neato's flagship models, however, it offers solid lidar mapping robot vacuum performance for reasonable prices. At $429, it is a cut above low-end competitors like the Shark Ion R85 and offers the same functionality as top-rated models like the Roomba iRobot X9 Pro and the Neato Botvac D7.

The design of the D4 is similar to the D6, except for the absence of a shiny black plastic cladding. The D4's upper surfaces have a matte finish which is less likely to attract dust or other particles. A disc with a raised design that has the word "neato", emblazoned on it, rests atop the rounded robot. It conceals the laser which enables its navigation.

Like all Neato vacuums the D4 starts its cleaning process by driving through your home to determine its location. Although it appears random, there's an explanation behind this chaos. It maneuvers around corners and wall by using a combination of bumping and laser sensors.

The app will display the floorplan of your home and highlight all the areas the D4 has explored. It will also highlight any issues that the robot ran into, such as an empty battery or the need to dock. You can limit the D4's access to specific areas by using the app to draw virtual "No-Go Lines" around furniture and objects that it should stay clear of.

Like all modern robotic vacuums the D4 Connected is compatible with voice assistants and can be operated by simple commands. It is compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Watch as well as Neato's voice control capabilities. You can also create your own cleaning schedule and manage the robot's features from the app.

The D4 can also set a daily or weekly cleaning schedule, toggle between Eco and Turbo mode, and switch on gentle navigation. It'll even return to its base to charge at the end of its run, though it'll need wait until the batteries are fully charged before this can happen.